Jesus Speaks – Will I have ears to hear and a heart to receive?

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” …

He [Jesus] said, “A certain man had two sons…”     Luke 15:1-2, 11 (WEB)

And so begins the parable we know as The Prodigal Son. What is the parable all about? Is it about the youngest son? Is it about the oldest son? Is it about the father? What about the observers in the story?

Jesus had three years to give His messages. I had the same amount of time to prepare to be an RN. I was arrogant enough to think that I was ready after three years until I sat down to take my state board exams; until I watched the nurse from the previous shift walk out the door and left me in charge of 35 patients and their care for the next eight hours. Three years is not a very long time. Jesus’ words were never careless. Each word, each parable has a reason and a purpose.

Jesus was speaking to all God’s people. He had a message for the tax collectors and sinners. He also had a message for the Scribes and Pharisees. I am not always clear with which group I stand. Fortunately, Jesus does have a message either way! The question was, and still is, do I hear Him and accept the message? I can read or hear His words all my life and not take them in and live them.

Today’s devotion is pretty brief but that is because I am going to spend time reading Luke 15, the whole chapter, several times. What is several? As many times as I should. That will be based on how many I need to read it and what God shows me through His Spirit. Maybe three – maybe more. I hope you will also take the time to read Luke 15. Over the next three days, we will look at the chapter from the view of each son, the father, and the observers.

But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.     2 Timothy 3:14-16 (WEB)